Clemson baseball coach Monte Lee spoke about a few new Tigers he and his staff believe will have an impact this season.
Marcel Louis-Jacques/Orange and White

CAK's Spencer Strider (28) dives for a grounder hit by Catholic during a 2-AA high school baseball championship game at Christian Academy of Knoxville on Wednesday, May 18, 2016. Strider missed the ball, but CAK won 3-2. (Photo: (ADAM LAU/NEWS SENTINEL))

Clemson's baseball team brought in Baseball America's 23rd-best recruiting class in 2017 as the Tigers look to replace three starting position players and its entire starting rotation on the mound.

While impact returners like Seth Beer, Logan Davidson and Chris Williams will anchor the team in 2018, head coach Monte Lee said he expects a lot from the new faces donning Tiger Orange this spring.

“I think they’re going to make a very big impact," Lee said. “This freshman group has a chance. I think there’s some guys in here that have a chance to be really good players and could contribute right away.”

Although Lee said he was "sure I'm going to leave somebody out," before the team's first full-squad practice Friday, he named six players Clemson fans could expect big things from right away:

Spencer Strider, RHP

Strider was the Cleveland Indians' 35th round pick out of Christian Academy Knoxville (TN) in last year's draft and was Perfect Game's 24th-best right-handed pitcher as a senior and was Tennessee's Gatorade Player of the Year.

CAK's Spencer Strider (left) was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the 35th round of the 2017 MLB draft.(Photo: Helen Comer / DNJ)

His fastball hit 96 miles-per-hour in high school and Lee said the freshman has a realistic shot at filling one of the vacant weekend rotation spots.

"Strider’s got a big-time arm, he’s going to be in the mix as a weekend starter," Lee said, "he’s fighting for one of those weekend spots. Very, very talented, drafted out of high school.”

Kier Meredith, OF

Meredith, an outfielder from Winston-Salem Glenn (NC), is a speedy addition to the Tigers' outfield. The Chicago Cubs' 28th round pick was Perfect Game's 23rd-best outfielder in last year's recruiting class and drew comparisons to current New York Yankee Brett Gardner.

"We're excited about Kier Meredith. He got a 4.0 GPA in the fall," Lee told WCCP 105.5 the ROAR. "He's different than any other player we've ever had. We really hope he can get healthy and play for us this year. He's a young version of current NY Yankee Brett Gardner."

"We're excited about Kier Meredith. He got a 4.0 GPA in the fall. He's different than any other player we've ever had. We really hope he can get healthy and play for us this year. He's a young version of current NY Yankee Brett Gardner." -- @MonteLeeCU

However, he's expected to miss the beginning of the season as he recovers from a shoulder injury he suffered in the fall.

Sam Weatherly, LHP/UTIL

The Toronto Blue Jays' 27th round draft pick in 2017 was Michigan's Mr. Baseball as a senior and could come in and compete for one of Clemson's rotation spots. He's listed as a left-handed pitcher, an outfielder, and a first baseman, and Lee called him "arguably the best athlete on the team."

Bryce Teodosio, OF

A local product who played his prep ball at Mauldin High School, Teodosio physically looks the part of a college baseball player, coming in at 6-foot-3, 215 pounds. Lee said he's a good defender now and could develop into something special if and when his bat comes around.

“He’s a plus defensive outfielder," Lee said. "He’s got to figure it out with the bat a little bit but he’s strong, he’s got a good arm, he covers ground. He’s got a chance to be special.”

Matt Cooper, C/OF/1B

The Virginia-native Cooper is one of several Tigerswho could see time behind the dish. He's 6-foot-3, 210 pounds as a true freshman and Lee said he could also play corner outfield. Perfect Game's 33rd-best catcher of last year's recruiting class seems to have made a quick transition to college hitting, as Lee said he batted .350 during fall ball.

Travis Marr, RHP

Marr isn't necessarily a new face but is a redshirt freshman after missing most of his first season with the team in 2017. He tossed a perfect inning with two strikeouts against Elon on Feb. 25 but a back injury kept him from contributing any further.

Still, Lee says the Colorado-native has made a nice recovery and is another weekend-starter candidate.

Travis Marr - Regis Jesuit(Photo: Jeremy Chavez)

“Travis Marr is a name you need to be familiar with. He got a medical redshirt last year, had a back injury," Lee said. "He’s throwing the ball really well right now, he’s got a chance to be a weekend starter. He’s a young man that we felt really good about out of the state of Colorado that was unable to play for us last year."